HAMSTRUNG

Robins prepares for selection challenge as Lawal injury blow makes it at least 10 players missing for big FA Cup clash

- Peter Smith

MARK Robins claims that he has never known anything in his career like the injury list plaguing Stoke City.

Robins is expected to be missing at least 10 players for tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Fulham at the bet365 Stadium (2pm), with Bosun Lawal the latest player trying to find space in the treatment room. Illness in the camp is also set to affect availability.

Lawal, who had shone early in the season at centre-half, was filling in as an emergency attacking right-back when he pulled his hamstring during a defeat at Charlton Athletic on Wednesday night.

It is a body blow for the 22-year-old, above, who will now be touch-and-go about being fit for Republic of Ireland’s World Cup playoff against Czechia on March 26.

It is the latest kick in the guts for Robins in a winter that has delivered blow after blow, putting Stoke’s Championship form into a tailspin when they had seemed on course to finally sustain a challenge for the top six.